Electric cars

As the name suggests, an electric car is a vehicle that is completely powered by an electric battery. They can run completely independent of gasoline and therefore leave almost no carbon footprint behind them. Electric cars can be charged in either a high voltage home outlet or at refueling stations that carry special outlets for electric vehicles. Electric cars are however rather complicated and come in many shapes and forms. Before you consider purchasing one read this brief guide on electric cars.

Electric Vs. Hybrid cars

If have decided to purchase an alternative-fuel vehicle, you have two primary choices; a hybrid car or an electric car. Each of these has options their pros and cons. One thing to consider is that while hybrid cars do give great gas mileage, they still run on gasoline and consume valuable resources. On the other hand, electric cars only have a range of about 100 miles or so. This means that as the technology for electric cars stands now, you won't be taking any extended vacations with an electric vehicle. Another thing to consider is that it takes only a few minutes to fuel up your hybrid car while it can take up to six hours to completely charge your electric car. When you combine the long fueling time with the limited range, it may seem that electric cars aren't worth it. But if you live in a city, and only use your car a few times a day for short commutes, the electric car begins to look much more attractive.

Cost of electric cars

Electric cars are more expensive than other cars. This is because the technology used to create them is relatively new and that fewer are made every year. So is the cost worth it? Yes and no. On one hand, once you get an electric car, you don't need to pay for gas ever again. The average electric car, if you charge it at home, will cost you about 2 cents per mile, when the most fuel efficient hybrid car will cost you 15 cents per mile. This may seem small, but over the course of a year, and 10,000 miles later, it begins to add up. But then again, the technology used to make electric cars is new, and as time goes on they are sure to get more efficient. So before you take the plunge, think about and weigh the short and long term benefits of going electric.